Pharmaceutical offer distribution systems, and methods for distributing and using same

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment, a pharmaceutical offer distribution system includes a plurality of pharmaceutical offer cards and a dispensing unit. Each of the plurality of pharmaceutical offer cards has an edge that implements a standardized relief pattern. The dispensing unit holds the plurality of pharmaceutical offer cards. The dispensing unit has a surface that is configured to mate with the standardized relief pattern of the pharmaceutical offer cards, to thereby retain the pharmaceutical offer cards until they are distributed to patients. Other pharmaceutical offer distribution systems, and methods for distributing and using same, are also disclosed.

BACKGROUND

Pharmaceutical samples (e.g., sample medications) are often given tophysicians for distribution to their patients at no cost to thepatients. Typically, pharmaceutical companies will provide the samplesto pharmaceutical representatives, who in turn provide the samples tophysicians. Physicians typically store the samples in drawers, cabinets,or closets, which often become chaotic and unorganized. Locating adesired sample may therefore be difficult.

Another problem with samples is that a physician is lured into operatingan unregulated pharmacy. That is, various office personnel may haveaccess to the physician's sample closet, and sometimes the samples maybe taken home or used by office personnel without physician approval.

The problem of operating an unregulated pharmacy may be alleviated byproviding physicians with coupons or vouchers that may be redeemed bypatients for free or discounted pharmaceuticals. However, coupons andvouchers can sometimes be even more difficult to organize than samples,as they are typically smaller and easier to shuffle together andoverlook.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, a pharmaceutical offer distribution system comprisesa plurality of pharmaceutical offer cards and a dispensing unit. Each ofthe plurality of pharmaceutical offer cards has an edge that implementsa standardized relief pattern. The dispensing unit holds the pluralityof pharmaceutical offer cards. The dispensing unit has a surface that isconfigured to mate with the standardized relief pattern of thepharmaceutical offer cards, to thereby retain the pharmaceutical offercards until they are distributed to patients.

In another embodiment, a pharmaceutical offer distribution systemcomprises a plurality of pharmaceutical type indicator cards and adispensing unit. The pharmaceutical type indicator cards are providedfor identifying groups of pharmaceutical offer cards. The dispensingunit holds the plurality of pharmaceutical type indicator cards.

In another embodiment, a method for distributing pharmaceutical offerscomprises 1) providing a plurality of pharmaceutical offer dispensingunits to a plurality of heath care entities, and 2) periodicallyproviding pharmaceutical offer cards to the health care entities. Thepharmaceutical offer cards are of a size and shape to fit within thedispensing units.

In another embodiment, a method for distributing pharmaceutical offerscomprises licensing a plurality of pharmaceutical offer dispensing unitsto a plurality of health care entities, with a condition of the licensesspecifying that the health care entities can only place pharmaceuticaloffer cards provided by licensed pharmaceutical companies into thedispensing units. A number of pharmaceutical companies are then licensedto provide pharmaceutical offer cards of at least one defined type forthe licensed dispensing units.

In yet another embodiment a method for dispensing pharmaceutical offersto patients comprises: 1) accessing a dispensing unit having a number ofpharmaceutical offer cards positioned therein; 2) removing at least oneportion of at least one of the number of pharmaceutical offer cards fromthe dispensing unit; and 3) providing the at least one portion of the atleast on pharmaceutical offer card, and a prescription, to a patient.

Other embodiments are also disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are illustrated in thedrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary pharmaceuticaloffer distribution system;

FIG. 2 illustrates a first exemplary embodiment of a pharmaceuticaloffer card for the system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a second exemplary embodiment of a pharmaceuticaloffer card for the system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the dispensing unit of the FIG.1 system;

FIG. 5 illustrates a top plan view of the FIG. 4 dispensing unit;

FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the FIG. 4 dispensing unit;

FIG. 7 illustrates a first exemplary embodiment of a pharmaceutical typeindicator card for the system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 illustrates a second exemplary embodiment of a pharmaceuticaltype indicator card for the system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 illustrates a first exemplary method for distributingpharmaceutical offers;

FIG. 10 illustrates a second exemplary method for distributingpharmaceutical offers; and

FIG. 11 illustrates a third exemplary method for distributingpharmaceutical offers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A system 100 for distributing pharmaceutical offer cards 200, 300 isshown in FIG. 1. The system 100 comprises a plurality of pharmaceuticaloffer cards 200, 300, and a dispensing unit 102. Exemplary embodimentsof the pharmaceutical offer cards 200, 300 are shown in FIGS. 2 & 3, andadditional details of the dispensing unit 102 are shown in FIGS. 4, 5, &6.

As will be discussed in more detail later in this description, eachpharmaceutical offer card 200, 300 provides one or more pharmaceuticaloffers (e.g., coupons or vouchers) that a physician may distribute tohis or her patients.

By way of example, the pharmaceutical offer cards 200, 300 may be paper,cardboard or plastic cards. Preferably, the pharmaceutical offer cards200, 300 are of a standardized size and shape so that they may all alignproperly and/or fit securely within the dispensing unit 102. However,variations, to some degree, are permissible. As shown in FIGS. 2 & 3,the pharmaceutical offer cards 200, 300 may be approximately rectangularin shape, although they could alternately take on a variety of shapesand sizes.

The pharmaceutical offer cards 200, 300 may each comprise an edge thatimplements a standardized relief pattern 202. The standardized reliefpattern 202 ensures that the pharmaceutical offer cards 200, 300 alignproperly and/or fit securely within the dispensing unit 102. As shown inFIGS. 2 & 3, the standardized relief pattern 202 may comprise arectangular notch 218, 318 in the bottom edges of the cards 200, 300.Alternately, pharmaceutical offer cards may implement a standardizedrelief pattern of alternative shape and size; and the standardizedrelief pattern may be positioned on an alternate edge of thepharmaceutical offer cards, so long as the standardized relief patterncorresponds with a surface of the dispensing unit 102.

The dispensing unit 102 retains and organizes the pharmaceutical offercards 200, 300, as shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the dispensingunit 102 may generally take the form of a box or tray having an opening104 for inserting, reviewing and/or removing the pharmaceutical offercards 200, 300. While FIGS. 1 & 4 illustrate the dispensing unit 102with an open top, a dispensing unit could alternatively comprise asmaller or larger opening, or the presence or absence of sides. Thedispensing unit 102 could also comprise a lid (not shown). In oneembodiment, a dispensing unit could take the form of a simple tray orsupport structure that sits horizontally, vertically, or at an angle.The dispensing unit could also take the form of a book or binder.

As shown in FIGS. 5 & 6, the dispensing unit 102 may further comprise asurface, such as bottom surface 502, that is configured to mate with thestandardized relief pattern 202 of the pharmaceutical offer cards 200,300. The surface 502 of the dispensing unit 102 may comprise a raisedstructure 506 which extends the length of the dispensing unit 102. Theraised structure 506 provides an alignment mechanism (and possibly aretaining mechanism) for the pharmaceutical offer cards 200, 300 so thatthey are easily accessible. Additionally, an adjustable mechanism 504may be coupled to the raised structure 506. The adjustable mechanism 504may be slideably adjusted or moved within the dispensing unit 102 so asto better hold the cards 200, 300 when the dispensing unit 102 is notfull.

Referring now to the pharmaceutical offer cards 200, 300, it is notedthat the dispensing unit 102 may hold a plurality of pharmaceuticaloffer cards 200, 300 supplied by a plurality of different pharmaceuticalcompanies. Generally, the pharmaceutical offer cards 200, 300 may bedistributed to patients by health care entities (e.g., physicians) sothat they may be redeemed for free or reduced-cost pharmaceuticals at apharmacy. Typically, the pharmaceutical offer cards 200, 300 will bedistributed to the health care entities through pharmaceuticalrepresentatives that periodically visit the health care entities tosupply new pharmaceutical offer cards 200, 300. By way of example, thecards 200, 300 may correspond to medications that a pharmaceuticalcompany is trying to promote. Under current laws, the pharmaceuticaloffer cards 200, 300 need to be accompanied by a prescription beforethey can be redeemed (i.e., if the cards 200, 300 are for prescriptionmedications). In some cases, some of the cards 200, 300 may correspondto non-prescription medications.

As shown in FIGS. 2 & 3, each pharmaceutical offer card 200, 300 maycomprise the name of an offered product 204, 304, as well as details ofa pharmaceutical company's offer 220, 322 (e.g., what quantity ofproduct is being offered; whether a product is being offered free or ata discount; etc.). In addition, the cards 200, 300 may comprise otheruseful information, such as prescribing guidelines 206, 208, 210, 306,308, 310. By way of example, the prescribing guidelines may comprise theproduct's purpose 206, 306 (e.g., symptoms or issues the medicationaddresses), dosage information 208, 308, and potential side-effects 210,310. The cards 200, 300 may also comprise additional information, suchas an expiration date and contact information for a pharmaceuticalcompany and/or its representative.

The pharmaceutical offer cards 200, 300 may also comprise offeridentification codes 214, 314 that may be used to identify and track thecards 200, 300. The offer identification codes 214, 314 may take avariety of forms and may, for example, comprise bar codes or numbers. Byproviding a means to identify and track the pharmaceutical offer cards200, 300, offer redemption and patient demographic information may beprovided to pharmaceutical and/or marketing companies (as described infurther detail later in this description). In some cases, each card 200,300 may be provided a unique offer identification code 214, 314. Inother cases, similar offer cards may be provided with the same offercode.

Each pharmaceutical offer card 200, 300 may also comprise a productidentification code 212, 312, and/or a unique “offer set” identificationcode 216, 316. As used herein, an “offer set” is a set of offer cardsthat is provided to a physician, perhaps with its own indexing card.Other codes, for tracking a plurality of variables, may also be providedon the cards 200, 300.

In some cases, a pharmaceutical offer card 200 may contain only a singleoffer 220, and the card 200 itself may be provided to a patient. SeeFIG. 2. In other cases, and as shown in FIG. 3, a pharmaceutical offercard 300 may comprise a detachable offer 302 that may be punched,peeled, or torn from the card 300 for distribution to a patient.Alternatively, a pharmaceutical offer card 300 may comprise a pluralityof detachable offers 302 that may be punched, peeled, or torn from thecard 300, for distribution to a plurality of patients. In the lattercase, the product name 304A, offer details 322A, identification codes312A, 314A, 316A, as well as any of the other prescribing guidelines306A, 308A, 310A may be alternately or additionally provided on each ofthe individual offers 302.

Some of the pharmaceutical offer cards 300 may be tabbed, as shown inFIG. 3. The tab 320 may comprise an indication of the type or set of agroup of pharmaceutical offer cards 300, as well as the name of theproduct offered by the card 300, its expiration date, and/or otherinformation. The tabbed pharmaceutical offer cards 300 may assist in thegeneral organization of the dispensing unit 102.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 7 & 8, the system 100 may further comprise a numberof pharmaceutical type indicator cards 700, 800 for identifyingcategories or groups of the pharmaceutical offer cards 200, 300. By wayof example, the indicator cards 700, 800 may be paper, cardboard orplastic cards that have one or more dimensions that exceed those of thepharmaceutical offer cards 200, 300 that they identify. In some cases,this enlarged dimension may take the form of a tab 702, while in othercases it may take the form of a card edge 802. Regardless, the point ofthe enlarged dimension is to make the indicator cards 700, 800 visibleover the offer cards 200, 300. Preferably, the tab 702 or edge 802provides the pharmaceutical “type indicator” (e.g., Cardiovascular, orAnalgesic Anti-Inflammatory). In one embodiment, the tab 702 or edge 802comprises a color-coded indicator (e.g., a colored background for textthat identifies a pharmaceutical type).

In addition to organizing the pharmaceutical offer cards 200, 300, thepharmaceutical type indicator cards 700, 800 may provide (or repeat)other information, such as prescribing guidelines and/or otherinformation related to the groups or sets of cards 200, 300 theyidentify. The indicator cards 700, 800 may also comprise additionalinformation, such as an expiration date and contact information for apharmaceutical company and/or its representative.

In one exemplary embodiment, the indicator cards that are provided for asystem 100 may identify any or all of the following categories ofpharmaceuticals: Analgesic Anti-inflammatory, Antimicrobials, PulmonaryAllergy ENT, Cardiovascular, Dermatological, Endocrine Metabolic,Gastrointestinal, Genitourinary, Vitamin Mineral Nutrition, Neurology,OB GYN, Ophthalmic, Psychiatric, and Hematology Oncology.

Preferably, one or more edges of the pharmaceutical type indicator cards700, 800 implement the same standardized relief pattern 202 as thepharmaceutical offer cards 200, 300 (e.g., an edge having a notch).

Having described the system 100, as well as various modifications to thesystem 100, methods of using the system 100 will now be described. Inthis regard, FIG. 9 illustrates a first exemplary method 900 fordistributing pharmaceutical offers (using, for example, the system 100shown in FIG. 1). The method 900 comprises providing 902 a plurality ofpharmaceutical offer dispensing units 102 to a plurality of heath careentities, and then periodically providing pharmaceutical offer cards200, 300 to the health care entities. As discussed above, thepharmaceutical offer cards 200, 300 should be of a size and shape to fitwithin the dispensing units 102. In some cases, some of the offer cards200, 300 may be provided to the health care entities at the same timethat the dispensing units 102 are provided.

FIG. 10 illustrates a second exemplary method 1000 for distributingpharmaceutical offers. In this embodiment, a plurality of pharmaceuticaloffer dispensing units 102 are licensed 1002 to a plurality of healthcare entities, with a condition of the licenses specifying that thehealth care entities can only place pharmaceutical offer cards 200, 300provided by licensed pharmaceutical companies into the dispensing units102. A number of pharmaceutical companies are then licensed 1004 toprovide pharmaceutical offer cards 200, 300 of at least one defined typefor the licensed dispensing units 102. The “defined type” may variouslyspecify the size(s), shape(s), format(s), color-coding and/or requiredinformation for the cards 200, 300.

FIG. 11 illustrates a third exemplary method 1100 for distributingpharmaceutical offers. The method 1100 comprises accessing 1102 adispensing unit 102 having a number of pharmaceutical offer cards 200,300 positioned therein, and then removing 1104 at least one portion ofat least one of the number of pharmaceutical offer cards 200, 300 (e.g.,the entire card 200, or a portion 302 thereof. The card 200 or portion302 thereof (i.e., a pharmaceutical offer) is then provided 1106 to apatient along with a prescription.

In one embodiment of the method 1100, accessing the dispensing unit 102may comprise locating a pharmaceutical offer card 200, 300 by reviewinga plurality of pharmaceutical type indicator cards 700, 800 thatidentify groups of the offer cards 200, 300. The prescription may bewritten by referring to prescribing guidelines printed on A) one of thepharmaceutical offer cards 200, 300, or B) one of the pharmaceuticaltype indicator cards 700, 800.

Use of the dispensing units 102 can be advantageous in that 1) theyprovide a means of organizing and retaining pharmaceutical offers (e.g.,coupons and vouchers), 2) they are more easily stationed where aphysician can access them (e.g., in a central location, or in each examroom), and 3) they increase the likelihood that pharmaceutical offerswill actually be distributed. Printing prescribing guidelines on theoffers also helps to increase the likelihood that pharmaceutical offerswill be distributed, since a physician does not need to retreat to hisor her office to look up prescribing guidelines for a pharmaceutical forwhich an offer is available.

An increased likelihood of pharmaceutical offers being distributed notonly helps patients, but it helps pharmaceutical companies realize areturn on their significant expenditure on pharmaceuticalrepresentatives.

Having described various systems 100 and methods 900, 1000, 1100 fordistributing pharmaceutical offer cards 200, 300, an exemplary method oftracking the pharmaceutical offer cards 200, 300 will now be described.First, a number of pharmaceutical offer cards 200, 300 are provided tohealth care entities along with the dispensing unit 102. The health careentities may then be provided with a plurality of differentpharmaceutical offer cards 200, 300 from a plurality of differentpharmaceutical companies and representatives. Because the size and shapeof the pharmaceutical offer cards 200, 300 and dispensing unit 102 arestandardized, the pharmaceutical offer cards 200, 300 will fit properlywithin the dispensing unit 102.

Preferably, the offer cards 200, 300 each comprise an identificationcode of some sort. Then, upon redemption of an offer by a patient, andafter a pharmacist records various prescribing information associatedwith the offer redemption, a pharmaceutical company may determine, forexample, 1) which pharmaceutical representative distributed the offer,2) which physician distributed the offer, and 3) which pharmaceuticaloffers are being redeemed most often. Preferably, an offer's redemptiondata is transmitted to a pharmaceutical company or third-party datacollection service electronically.

1. A pharmaceutical offer distribution system, comprising: a pluralityof pharmaceutical offer cards, each card having an edge that implementsa standardized relief pattern; and a dispensing unit to hold theplurality of pharmaceutical offer cards, the dispensing unit having asurface that is configured to mate with the standardized relief patternof the pharmaceutical offer cards to thereby retain the pharmaceuticaloffer cards until they are distributed to patients.
 2. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the standardized relief pattern comprises a notch. 3.The system of claim 1, further comprising a number of pharmaceuticaltype indicator cards for identifying groups of the pharmaceutical offercards, each indicator card having an edge that implements thestandardized relief pattern.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein each ofthe indicator cards is sized larger than the pharmaceutical offer cardsin at least one dimension, and wherein a part of each indicator cardthat exceeds the dimensions of the pharmaceutical offer cards comprisesan indication of a pharmaceutical type.
 5. The system of claim 3,wherein each of the indicator cards comprises a tab comprising anindication of a pharmaceutical type.
 6. The system of claim 3, whereinat least some of the indicator cards comprise pharmaceutical prescribingguidelines thereon.
 7. The system of claim 3, wherein the indicatorcards comprise color-coded indicators of pharmaceutical types.
 8. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein at least some of the pharmaceutical offerscards comprise pharmaceutical prescribing guidelines thereon.
 9. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein at least some of the pharmaceutical offerscards comprise offer identification codes thereon.
 10. The system ofclaim 1, wherein at least some of the pharmaceutical offer cardscomprise a product name, offer identification code, and prescribingguidelines thereon.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein all of thepharmaceutical offer cards comprise a product name, offer identificationcode, and prescribing guidelines thereon.
 12. The system of claim 1,wherein at least some of the pharmaceutical offer cards comprise aplurality of detachable pharmaceutical offers thereon.
 13. Apharmaceutical offer distribution system, comprising: a plurality ofpharmaceutical type indicator cards for identifying groups ofpharmaceutical offer cards; and a dispensing unit to hold the pluralityof pharmaceutical type indicator cards.
 14. The system of claim 13,wherein each indicator card has an edge that implements a standardizedrelief pattern; and wherein the dispensing unit has a surface that isconfigured to mate with the standardized relief pattern of the indicatorcards, to thereby retain the indicator cards.
 15. The system of claim13, wherein the indicator cards comprise color-coded indicators ofpharmaceutical types.
 16. A method for distributing pharmaceuticaloffers, comprising: providing a plurality of pharmaceutical offerdispensing units to a plurality of health care entities; andperiodically providing pharmaceutical offer cards to the health careentities, of a size and shape to fit within the dispensing units. 17.The method of claim 16, further comprising, providing at least some ofthe pharmaceutical offer cards at the same time that the dispensingunits are provided.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein eachpharmaceutical offer card has an edge that implements a standardizedrelief pattern; and wherein each dispensing unit has a surface that isconfigured to mate with the standardized relief pattern of thepharmaceutical offer cards, to thereby retain the pharmaceutical offercards until they are distributed to patients.
 19. The method of claim16, wherein additional ones of the pharmaceutical offer cards areprovided to the health care entities on a periodic basis.
 20. The methodof claim 16, further comprising, providing an offer identification codeon at least some of the pharmaceutical offer cards.
 21. A method fordistributing pharmaceutical offers, comprising: licensing a plurality ofpharmaceutical offer dispensing units to a plurality of health careentities, with a condition of the licenses specifying that the healthcare entities can only place pharmaceutical offer cards provided bylicensed pharmaceutical companies into the dispensing units; andlicensing a number of pharmaceutical companies to provide pharmaceuticaloffer cards of at least one defined type for the licensed dispensingunits.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least one defined typespecifies a size and shape of the pharmaceutical offer cards.
 23. Themethod of claim 21, wherein the at least one defined type specifiesrequired information that must appear on the pharmaceutical offer cards.24. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least one defined typespecifies a color-coding of the pharmaceutical offer cards.
 25. Themethod of claim 21, wherein the licensed dispensing units are providedwith pharmaceutical type indicator cards.
 26. A method for dispensingpharmaceutical offers to patients, comprising: accessing a dispensingunit having a number of pharmaceutical offer cards positioned therein;removing at least one portion of at least one of the number ofpharmaceutical offer cards from the dispensing unit; and providing theat least one portion of the at least one pharmaceutical offer card, anda prescription, to a patient.
 27. The method of claim 26, whereinaccessing the dispensing unit comprises locating a pharmaceutical offercard by reviewing a plurality of pharmaceutical type indicator cardsthat identify groups of the pharmaceutical offer cards.
 28. The methodof claim 26, wherein removing the at least one portion of the at leastone pharmaceutical offer card comprises removing an entirepharmaceutical offer card.
 29. The method of claim 26, wherein removingthe at least one portion of the at least one pharmaceutical offer cardcomprises peeling off a portion of one of the pharmaceutical offercards.
 30. The method of claim 26, further comprising, writing theprescription by referring to prescribing guidelines printed on one ofthe pharmaceutical offer cards.
 31. The method of claim 26, furthercomprising, writing the prescription by referring to prescribingguidelines printed on a pharmaceutical type indicator card correspondingto the pharmaceutical offer card from which the at least one portion isremoved.
 32. The method of claim 26, further comprising, periodicallyinserting new pharmaceutical offer cards into the dispensing unit.